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Millions OK’d for Truckee’s mini Mousehole, Hwy 267 repaving

Margaret Moran
mmoran@sierrasun.com

TRUCKEE, Calif. — Two local projects will benefit from millions of dollars in funding, all part of a state-wide effort to improve heavily used highways, bridges and public transit.

The California Transportation Commission recently awarded $510 million to 83 projects, including construction of the mini Mousehole pedestrian/bike undercrossing on Highway 89 in Truckee and rehabilitation of a major section of Highway 267.

Nearly $163 million is earmarked for “fix it first” projects that will repair bumpy pavement, preserve roads in good condition from deteriorating, and upgrade bridges for safety purposes, according to Caltrans.



“To get the most bang for the buck for taxpayers, Caltrans targets dollars where they are most effective — pavement preservation,” Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said in a statement. “Every $1 spent on preventive pavement maintenance saves Californians $11 that would have been spent on expensive pavement repairs.”

The 2014-15 state budget provides $351 million in additional transportation funding, with $210 million for the State Highway Operation and Protection Program; $100 million for city and county transportation; $27 million for Caltrans maintenance projects; $9 million for bicycle and pedestrian projects under California’s new Active Transportation Program; and $5 million to mitigate environmental effects of proposed transportation improvements.



Here’s a breakdown of the two local projects:

— $4.9 million to repave 12.6 miles of Highway 267 from the Nevada County line to Brockway Summit. Work is anticipated to start in either spring or early summer, 2015, with completion targeted for that October, said Rochelle Jenkins, Caltrans spokesperson. Work would take place night and day, Monday through Friday, with crews likely off the highway by noon Friday. One-way traffic control would be in effect, with minor delays expected. Project cost is estimated at $6.1 million, with CTC allocating the remaining funds previously.

— $7.5 million to the Highway 89 mini Mousehole project to build a pedestrian/bicycle railroad undercrossing east of the existing Mousehole tunnel. Work is anticipated to start May or June 2015, taking two construction seasons to complete, Jenkins said. Work would be day and night, with minimal impact to traffic anticipated. The $12.6 million project is covered by a mix of local, state and federal dollars, according to previous reports.


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